Indicator



y 1927' c. E. suMNiitRS INDICATOR Filed Dec. 20. 1922 5 [ZZZ 1755555 Patented. July 12 1927.

time E; "sv m msgo xa ba onio assio'non "To GnnER'AL aprons hhshhnoir CORPORATION,-OF DAYTONLOHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

anama flleIdDecfiiber 20, 1922. Serial No. 607,963.

invention relates -to lubricating systerns of automobiles and has among its ob je'cts' the provision of a signalling device for indicating the lack lubricating system. 2

Further objects and present invention will be apparent from the following-"description, reference being had to the acconipaiiying drawing, wherein pre ferred forms off embodiments of the present 'inventio'n'areclearly-shown.

In the drawing; f' p k Fig. -1-is a fragmentary side view of an engine partlyin section to-which the present inventionis applied.

Fig. 2 is a wirin circuit connections signal and Fig. 3 is a showing a modified form of the invention.

The internal combustion engine 20 to which the present invention is applied is provided with a lubricating system whichincludes a duct 21 through which lubricating oil flows into a vessel 22 of non-conducting material, During the normal operation of the lubricating system, the lubricant will fill the box 22 and will flow over the upper edge 1- providing a visible thereof into a pan 23 which forms the-lower part of the crankcase. As shown in the coending application of Kettering and Short, erialNo. 553,938, filed April 17, 1922, this pan includes a plurality of troughs each for collecting oil to be splashed by a connecting rod of the engine in the usual manner of splash oil systemsi There being lubricant in t e vessel 22 the cork float ball 24' will rise to the position shown in Fig. 1 and will draw after it a metalliccontact 25 connected with.

the float ball by means of a rod 26. Rod 26 is smaller in diameter than the hole in the bottom of the box 22 but not so small as to prevent filling the box 22 with lubricant during the normal operation of the lubrieating system. This contact 25 will engage two electrical contacts 27 and 28 supported by the bottom of box 22. The contact 28 is grounded at 29, the contact 27 isconnected by wire 30 with a switch contact 31 adapted to. be connected by movable switch contact 32 with a contact 33. Contact 33 is connected by wire 34 with a lamp 35 which in turn is connected by wire 36 of the battery of lubricant in the advantages of the diagram showing the fragmentary sectional View The switch contact 32 is a ti'iatd'bypu'll butt'onat), To. render the signalling device operative, the pull button 10 ispulledlto the left toc'a'use thecontacft 32 to engage the switch contacts-31 and '33.] As long as a sufiicient amoun'tof lubricating oil is fi-owingout of the pipe 21 the float 24 will be maintained ,in elevated position causing the contacts 27 and 28 tob'e engaged by contact 25. Current will now then from the battery 37 to the light 35, to indicate'that the lubricating s stem is operative. if it is undesirabletolfiurn the light continually .thesw'itch button 40 maybe pushed in. The

burningpf the light when the'button 40' is pulled out will indicate that the lubricating system is operative. 1 A baffle 41 is attached to the box adjacent the outlet end of pipe 21 to prevent lubricating oil being thrown directly onto the float ball 24 to interfere with its operation.

WVhen the lubricating system is operating properly the box 22 will be filled to overflowing, the excess spilling over the sides of the box and leaking past the contact 25. It the flow of lubricant through pipe 21 should substantially cease, the box 22 will I be emptied on account of leakage past contact 25. If this leakage be not rapid enough then a small hole 22* can be provided in the box 22 near the bottom. The box 22 would be emptied if the flow through pipe 21 is receiving sufficient lubricant.

The system can be arranged so that the light will burn only when the lubricating system is inoperative, that is, the box 22 is not being filled with lubricant. Referring to Fig. 3 the bottom of the box is provided with a conical seat 50 to receive a conical portion 51 of a float member 52. This conical portion is provided with a band 53 of conducting material adapted to engage contacts 5 1 and 55 connected respectivel with wires 30 and 29 of the system shown in Fig. 2. When the box 22 is empty the float 52 will rest upon the bottom of the box with the band 53 in engagement with the contacts troughs connected with the pan 23 are not 54 and 55. When this occurs, provided the switch 40 is pulled out, current will flow from the battery to cause the lamp to burn. The float 52 is provided with a rod 26 which cooperates with a hole 57 in the bottom of box 22 to serve as a guide for the float.

Obviously an audible signal could be sub stituted for the electric lamp 35, such a sig nal being an electric bell.

\Vhile the forms of mechanisms herein shown and described constitute preferred forms of embodiment of the present invention it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a device of the class described, a vessel and means for supplying a liquid thereto, said vessel havinga hole in its bottom wall; a switch; a float located within said vessel and having a rod depending through the hole aforesaid; and means whereby said float may act to close a circuit controlled by said switch, said vessel having a second unobstructed hole adjacent its lower end and through which liquid may flow therefrom.

2. In a device of the class described, a vessel and means for supplying a liquid thereto, said vessel having a hole in its bottom wall; two insulated terminals carried by said vessel; a float located within said vessel and having a rod depending through the hole aforesaid; and a circuit closing member carried by said float and adapted to close a circuit in which said terminals are included, said vessel having a second unobstructed hole adjacent its lower end and through which liquid may flow therefrom.

3. In a device of the class described, a vessel, and means for supplying a liquid thereto, said vessel having a hole in its bottom wall; two terminals carried by said bottom wall; a float located within said vessel and having a rod depending through the hole aforesaid; and a circuit closing member carried by said float and adapted to close a circuit in which said terminals are included, said vessel having a second unobstructed hole adjacent its lower end and through which liquid may flow therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature. CALEB E. SUMMERS. 

